Reinforced terra-cotta arch.



J. COMBRMA.

REINFORGED TERRA GOTT-A ARCH. APPLICATIoN FILED JUNE 1, 1905.

Jaan 'omermm 7K5 MM2* PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

UNITED STATES REINFORCED TERRA-GOTTA ARCH.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

PATENT OFFIOE.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed Tune l, 1905. Serial No. 263,471.

T0 all whom, it petty concern.-

Beit known that I, JUAN COMERMA, a subject of the King of Spain, residing in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reinforced Terra- Ootta Arches, of which the following is va specification.

My invention relates to terra-cotta fireproof arches employed in the construction of buildings and the like; and the object in view is to produce an improved construction which possesses great strength and load-carrying capacity.

The new arch consists of a plurality of terra-cotta members in the form of tiles and a iilling of self-setting material extending through and between the members or` tiles for the purpose of binding the whole into a solid homogeneous structure.

Other parts of the invention will be hereinafter described, and the novel features pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, through a fireprocf arch constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view o one cellular tile or terra-cotta block used in constructing the arch of my invention.

The arch shown by Fig. l consists of a plurality of terra-cotta blocks or tiles A and a pair of end tiles B B', which are in cooperative relation to the I-beams C and to certain of the tiles A. Any desired number of these tiles A are employed in the construction of the arch, the number used depending upon the width of the space between the I- beams; but, as shown by Fig. l, the arch is constructed of seven tiles A between the end tiles B. It is evident, however, the number of tiles may be increased or decreased, according to the span between the I-beams but the middle tile A of the arch should be constructed substantially as shown by Fig. l in order to key the tiles of said arch.

Each tile A is of the cellular construction shown by Fig. 3 in order to reduce the weight ofthe tile as much as possible and to provide the desired filling-p assages which are used in my arch to receive a plastic material, such as cement, for the purpose of binding vall the tiles into a homogeneous vmassi or structure. The tile shown by Fig. 3 is provided with a web a., intermediate of the sideso', for the purpose of producing the cells d. f

The particular tile shown has its upper part divided by partitions c and a web c', so as to produce a plurality of illing-passagesf, the latter being substantially parallel and eX- tending in inclined orA curved directions lengthwise ofthe tile, substantially as shown by Fig. l. This tile is also provided with iilling-p assages f on opposite sides of the parallel illing-passagesf, the axes of the passages f' being substantially at right angles tol the axes of the passages j'. The number of illingpassages in the tile is not material; but I prefer to employ more Iling-passages ff' than the cells d d in each tile, the area of the indi-e vidual iilling-passages being less than that of each cell. The location of the cells and the 'lilling-p assage in eachtile varies with the position that the tile assumes in kthe arch. The tiles A2 A2, which lie next to the end tiles B B', have cells d d' located above and below the iilling-passages ff. The key-tile A has the cells d located below the filling-passages f and the tilesv intermediate of the key-tile A', and the tiles A2 have their passagesf spaced relative to the passages in said tiles A', so as to make the iilling-p assages f in all the tiles assume the arched or inclined positions shown clearly by the left-hand portion of Fig.- 1.

The `filling-passages of the individual tiles intended to form the arch register or coineide, so as to produce the plurality of arched longitudinal `openings -through the series Yof tiles, and these passages or openings f are filled with a plastic material D. A plurality of layers of thin plastic material extend on arched lines lengthwise through the series of tiles and the arch, and inthe spaces between the tiles of a row are other plastic bonds D', In addition to filling the passages f with the cement or other plastic material I also prefer to iill the side passages f', and the mass of plastic material 'or cement thus extends through the passagesff' of the tiles, so as to bind the whole mass into a solid homogeneous structure. As shown by Fig. 1, the end tiles of the arch are recessed, as at b, for

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engagement with the lower iiange of the I- bearns C, and each end tile B is provided with filling-passages f2, adapted to register with the passages f of the'tiles A2. Each end tile B is fashioned to fit snugly to the I-beam, and one side b of this tile B is inclined, so as to have the proper engagement with the adjacent tile AZ.

The tiles A A B B are laid in a row, so as to extend from one I-beam to the other, and the space or spaces on the side or sides of this row are built up by other rows of tiles, substantially as shown by Fig. 2. The tiles of the rows are united by plastic bonds D', and said tiles are assembled to produce the cells e2. These cells are adapted for the reception of a metallic reinforcement, which is shown in the form of a tension bar or cable E, the latter extendin in an inclined or curved direction between t e I-beams C and having its end portions anchored to said I-beams, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This tension member or truss engages with the tiles of adjoining rows on a line below the bond or joint D between said rows, andl said tension member is embedded in the plastic bond, so as to materially strengthen the tiles formi'nor the arch.

Another peculiarity of my invention consists in the structure of the tiles so as to produce interlocking joints between adjacent tiles of each row. The individual tiles are made so that two sides thereof` are inclined on the radius of the arch, and each inclined side of the tile is interrupted by a shoulder g. On one side of the tile the shoulder faces upwardly, as at g in Fig. l, while on the opposite side of the tile the shoulder faces downward, as at g in said figure. This construction enables the shoulders of adjacent tiles to be assembled in interlocking order. It is evident that the key block or tile A has two undercut shoulders formed on the respective sides thereof and adapted to rest upon the upwardly-facing shoulders of the two tiles in the row located next to said key-tile.

The operation of assembling the tiles to form the arch is similar to that practiced ordinarily in the art. A temporary platform or scaffolding is provded below the I-beams and the end tiles B B are placed in position, the passages f2 in said end tiles'being filled with cement. Before placing the tiles A2 in position the cement is spread over the incilned faces and the passages f are filled with the cement, the tiles being then placed in position. This operation is repeated throughout all the tiles in the row to form a part of the arch, and when all of said tiles shall have been placed in position the plastic material forms a bond extending on inclined or curved lines lengthwise of the arch, said bond being in separated layers and filling the joints D between the individual tiles ofsaid arch.

Changes in the form, size, proportion, and minor details in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificincr any of the advantages thereof, and l therefore reserve the right to make such alterations and modifications as fairly fall 'within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of shouldered tiles assembled in interlocking relation, each tile having a plurality of filling-passages, the several filling-passages being arched across the structure, and a bond of self-hardening material disposed in layers through the arch by occupying the filling-passages thereof.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a plurality of cellular tiles each having a plurality of passages for the reception of a self-hardening bond, said passages of the individual tiles being formed at different elevations therein and so related to each other that on the proper assemblage of said tiles the said passages will register and thereby produce a plurality of continuous arched passages across the structure.

3. In a structure of the class described, an arch composed of a plurality of cellular tiles each having an arcuate passage for the reception of a self-hardening bond, the individual tiles of the arch having said passages formed at different elevations therein, and said passages being so related as to register in the successive tiles, whereby the passages of the several tiles produce an arched passage extending continuously of the arch.

Ll. In a structure of the class described, a plurality of tiles having a plurality of arched passages, and a plurality of layers of a selfhardening bond filling said passages, each layer extending in an unbroken line through 'the successive tiles.

5. ln a structure of the class described, a plurality of tiles each having cells and a plurality of filling-passages arched or inclined to the axes of the cells, and a plurality of layers of a self-hardening bond occupying said passages, each layer extending in an arched unbroken line through the successive tiles.

6. ln a structure of the class described, a plurality of cellular tiles each having a plurality of arcuate filling-passages and with other filling-passages at the sides of the cells, and a plurality of layers of a self-hardening bond occupying the passages and each extending in an unbroken line through the successivel tiles, the layers which occupy the arched passages extending in arched lines across the structure.

7. In a structure of the class described, a plurality of tiles having external shoulders and internal arcuate filling-passages, said tiles being assembled in interlocking relation a metallic tension member coperating with si the shouldered portions of the tiles, arched layers of a self-hardening bond extending in- In testimony 'whereof I have hereunto gned my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JUAN COMERMA. Witnesses JAMES MATHEM, H. I. BERNHARD. 

